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Shadow of deceit

Athena Stanford is a 21-year-old orphan living in the bustling city of New York. She is jobless and lonely, but she catches the eye of Caleb Martin's, a charming and successful businessman. After a whirlwind romance, Caleb confesses his feelings for Athena, and they become a couple. However, their happiness is short-lived when Caleb develops a nervous problem that requires an expensive operation. Determined to help the man she loves, Athena takes up various jobs to earn money for Caleb's operation. Her journey leads her to the Elite Restaurant, a prestigious establishment owned by the wealthy and powerful Liam Steele. During her time working at the restaurant, Athena encounters Luke Steele, a notorious playboy known for his perverted interests. Luke becomes infatuated with Athena and starts pursuing her relentlessly, despite her clear rejection of his advances. One fateful day, Athena stumbles upon a beautiful ruby pendant and impulsively decides to sell it to cover Caleb's medical expenses. Unbeknownst to her, the pendant actually belongs to Liam Steele, who values it dearly. Determined to retrieve his precious possession, Liam seeks out Athena, but rather than taking her as a slave as expected, he becomes intrigued by her resilience and independence. Meanwhile, the Steele family faces internal turmoil when Logan Steele, Liam' brother, discovers that Luke has betrayed him by sleeping with Logan's fiancée, Jaden Ravenwood. Seeking revenge, Logan sets his sights on Athena, using her as a pawn to inflict pain upon Luke. With the help of his loyal bodyguard, Flynn Martin's, and devoted right-hand woman, Sandra Scott, Logan begins a dangerous game of manipulation, which further complicates Athena's life and fuels tensions within the Steele family.

FamodunOluwasegun · Teen
Not enough ratings
49 Chs

Chapter Seven

KRIS PHANTOM POV

I grasped tightly to her hands not letting her collapse while she opened her eyes to gaze at mine.

"Mr…. Mr Phantom " she dubbed, still surprised I didn't allow her collapse.

"why are you so gullible?". I questioned making her stand back in her former position.

"I am sorry" she whispered evading my stares,

"wow, you could identify me simply by my eyes, I am impressed ". I declared still maintaining a straight face while I went back to my chair.

"I hope you now have my rare gem? I questioned her, she refused to utter any words to me which was frustrating.

"What happened to her?". I questioned Flynn.

"I don't actually know either" Flynn responded.

"You can leave us now," I urged. Flynn left the room instantly, leaving me alone with Athena who was surprisingly so silent.

" Why aren't you saying anything, you do know that if you have my gem I would have no choice but to make you my slave." I said to her clearly, making her understand the circumstances if she is to fail me.

For the first time this evening she stared back at me.

"I accept, my life is totally useless now. What difference would it make if I became your slave? Initially I was scared of becoming your sex slave but it's too late for all that now. I have no dignity to keep". She said mostly referring to herself because I was now absolutely confused and didn't understand any of the things she just said.

"Who took your dignity?". I was even more interested in how she could keep her dignity for that long.

"I don't know, it was you and at the same time it was Kross". She replied a bit confused.

"You don't know who raped you, that's amazing".I said to her she stares at me angrily.

"It wasn't rape, I was drunk. It seemed like a plan work and that is exactly why I am confused, are you sure you didn't get me drunk just to make me yours?". What was she insinuating,I would never do that. I won't just rape anyone when a lot of girls are swapping around me just to be by my side.

"Do I look like someone who would rape for fun even if you were drunk I still won't take advantage of you". I said to her ,but she kept shaking her head negatively.

"It was you or your brother". She insisted,

"Should I call Kross?He is in hotel rooms". I asked her but she seemed a bit tense.

"He would just continue to disturb me if I gave him a chance". She already hates Kross for who he is.

"That would make it more fun. Flynn call in Kross ". I said out loud so Flynn would hear me.

"Yes boss ". Flynn replied from outside the door.

"Don't call him, what if he isn't the one who made love to me".

"Why are you doubting your vision, you clearly said it was one of us, me or Kross and Kross is known for womanizing habits so even I don't trust him". I said to her, Kross would have easily done this but that also can't be possible because she was with Flynn all the time. Why would Flynn let Kross get his way with her when he knows I want her to be my slave?.

Few minutes later, Kross walked in with a smirk. It can't be, he actually did it.

"You wanted to see me baby" he teased moving closer to Athena who stays behind me.

"Stop Kross, something serious has happened". I said pushing him back a little,he stares at my hand on his chest angrily.

"I brought her to you and now you are stopping me from talking to her, this better be serious for you to push me". Kross said through gritted teeth.

"You took her dignity away?". I asked him but Kross just chuckled out loud.

"What dignity do you mean?"he asked, mostly referring to Athena.

"Mr phantom it wasn't Kross". Athena whispered to me, which made me even more confused.

"What do you mean, it wasn't Kross!" I exclaimed, staring at Kross who was also confused.

"Can you please explain to me what's going on". Kross requested. I moved away from Athena and closer to Kross.

"Someone made love to her against her will and from what she said,the last time we saw her she was still a virgin". I whispered to Kross who seemed more furious than Athena.

"Why did you say it was me?". He asked like he was trying to place the puzzles together.

"She claimed it was one of us and clearly you are the only womanizer amongst us' 'I said but all he did again was laugh out loud, was he going crazy. He only laughs out when his anger is at its peak.

"Kross". I called but he just walked past me towards Athena, pinning her on the wall.

"Logan did this". He said to Athena who was confused.

"Who is Logan?". She doesn't know about Logan, that was why she felt it was either one of us.

"Logan did this". Kross repeated now more and more fierce. He rushes up to me.

"You were supposed to protect her, that was she was in your care, to be protected by you. And now you couldn't do that and you made Logan touch what belongs to me!!". Kross yelled, I pushed him away.

"Don't yell at me, even if I protected her you know Logan would always get what he wants and he wanted Athena, he got her. Why should that be my fault alone". I questioned Kross. I was not sorry for Kross, I know Logan is only trying to pay back at Kross for everything he has done to him but this was unexpected.

"Flynn!!". I yelled as Flynn rushed in.

"You were supposed to bring her here, why couldn't you keep to that and made Logan get to her!" I asked him pulling him closer with his collar, Flynn never makes mistake. This wasn't a mistake from Flynn and he won't admit it.

"You knew about this Flynn". I whispered but stopped when Kross stared at Athena in concern, I turned towards her direction and she was actually crying, I guess I was too lost in curiosity I didn't notice her.

Kross and I rushed to her, I cleaned the tears from her cheeks because Kross couldn't get close to her, he was feeling guilty.

"What have you all turned me into?". She stuttered to me, this wasn't what I wanted. Now she think it was all a planned work.

"Athena, it wasn't Kross". I said trying to explain but she continued sobbing even louder.

"You are triplets, you three manipulated me". She said to me.

"I have nothing to do with that,all I did was get you here and I want my gem, nothing else. If you don't bring it to me that clearly meant you belong to me which you didn't, so you are mine and Logan would pay for touching you!" I said, Flynn moved closer to me like he wanted to explain himself but I wasn't ready for any of that.

"Not a word from you Flynn". I said before stomping out of the room I turned around and Kross was behind me.

"Kross you can't face him". I said pushing him backward a little.

"And why can't I?".

"Because you are at fault, me and you know what you did that warranted to all this happening". I said to him .

"Logan shouldn't have done this still, Athena was innocent when he took everything away from her". I still can't believe Kross was feeling pity for Athena.

"Are you really in love with Athena?" I asked.

"I don't know Kris, she does things to me no woman have ever done and I felt so hurt when I saw her crying earlier ". He replied. This bastard was in love and he had to pick Athena of all the woman he had wasted around with.

"You are in love with her, let me take the fight to Logan. Stay with Athena and make her trust you, that should be your first step in getting through to her". I said to Kross who gazed back at me for a little while before nodding.

I can't let him follow me to Logan or else this fight would get more heated than it already seems and all this because of a lady.

I asked around for where Logan could possibly be and the dumbass was still in the VIP bar, he was supposed to leave after doing that.

I walked towards his vip session and he was laughing out loud with few of his friends, I walked up to them and he stops laughing staring at me.

"Brother". He called out, like we usually called ourselves any of that. The others stared at me, I know they couldn't identify me because of my mask.

"Logan you better have a good explanation for what you did". I said ready to deal with him in the presence of his friends if he doesn't reply me sincerely.